My ex mother in law introduced me to an iceing made with a cooked flour paste and sugar. I know this does not sound good, but believe me,, it is delicious. You can use different extracts to flavor it, and I have even added cocoa powder to it to make a chocolate icing. It is just so fluffy and not as sweet tasting.
Flour Frosting
1/4 cup flour
1 cup sugar
1 cup milk
1 cup butter cut in cubes (let the butter or margarine soften a bit)
1 tsp vanilla
pinch of salt
1. In a medium heavy-bottomed saucepan, whisk the sugar, flour, salt together. Add the milk and cook over medium heat, whisking occasionally (I had to whisk constantly or else it started to stick and clump at the bottom) until the mixture has thickened into a paste and slightly bubbly at edges (You probably don't want it boiling because we all know how boiled milk tastes..)
2. Transfer the mixture to the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Beat on high speed until cool. Reduce the speed to low and add the butter; beat until thoroughly incorporated. Increase the speed to medium-high and beat until the frosting is light and fluffy. If the frosting is too soft, transfer the bowl to the refrigerator to chill slightly: then beat again until it is the proper consistency.
3. Add the vanilla and continue mixing until combined.
